TRANSPORT

Airport Security Staff

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason security staff at English airports are vetted by the Scottish Criminal Records Bureau; and for how long this has been the case.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 17 March 2005
	Security staff at UK airports are vetted by the Department for Transport at Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) Level. All other staff who need to work in the Restricted Zone at airports are required to undergo a check of their criminal record. Such staff need to provide a Basic Disclosure certificate to the pass issuing authority (Aerodrome Manager). At present the only source of such a certificate is Disclosure Scotland (part of the Scottish Criminal Records Office). The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which provides the Disclosure service in England and Wales, is considering its approach to the introduction of Basic Disclosures as part of a strategy review.

Cycle Lanes (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle lanes there have been in York in each year since 1996–97.

Charlotte Atkins: The following table gives details of the number of miles of cycle lanes (plus, in addition, cycle tracks) built and opened in York covering the years 1996–97 to 2005–06. No figures are available for 1996–97 to 1997–98 as records were not kept on cycle track/lane lengths at that time.
	
		
			  Cycle tracks Cycle lanes 
		
		
			 1998–99 1.2 0.6 
			 1999–2000 0.6 0.6 
			 2000–01 1.9 1.3 
			 2001–02 6.2 2.5 
			 2002–03 6.2 2.5 
			 2003–04 7.5 3.1 
			 2004–05 6.2 2.5 
			 2005–06 6.3 2.5

Driving Licences

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the adult population of the United Kingdom has a driver's licence.

David Jamieson: The latest available comparable figures for the United Kingdom show that, at the end of 2002, the number of licence holders was 40,676,136 representing 85.69 per cent. of the eligible population of 47,469,700.

Heathrow Airport

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest assessment is of the terminal facilities which would be required if a third runway were to be constructed at Heathrow.

Charlotte Atkins: In its response to consultation prior to the Air Transport White Paper, BAA argued that the full potential of an additional third runway at Heathrow could not be realised without a sixth terminal to the north of the A4 and suggested four possible options for new facilities. The White Paper itself acknowledged this.
	Work is still under way within BAA to examine the options and impacts, as part of the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow, and any proposals would be the subject of consultation in due course.

Heathrow Airport

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the work being undertaken by Project Heathrow on the future development of runway capacity at Heathrow airport is restricted to examining the implications of a new short runway.

Charlotte Atkins: As set out in the Air Transport White Paper, the programme of work known as the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow includes consideration of the scope for greater utilisation of the two existing runways as well as the possible addition of a third short runway.

Kerrier Home Zone Project

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation was conducted by Kerrier district council regarding the North Close Home Zone project; how much the consultation cost; and what conclusions were published.

Charlotte Atkins: Cornwall county council is the authority responsible for implementing the North Close Home Zone project. Kerrier district council has carried out consultation on behalf of, and in partnership with, the county council, and was directly responsible for the organisation of the initial consultation fun day. Other consultation has included door to door surveys, leaflets, exhibitions and statutory consultation.
	Overall, the county council reports that approximately £29,350 has been spent on the consultation element of the project.
	Results of the consultation have not been published by the county council but have been discussed at meetings of the project working group, the minutes of which are circulated widely.

Kerrier Home Zone Project

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on the North Close Home Zone project, broken down by main budget heading.

Charlotte Atkins: Cornwall county council, the authority responsible for the development and implementation of the North Close Home Zone, reports that by mid February this year it had spent £481,500 on the project, of which £460,000 has been provided from the Department's Home Zones Challenge fund.
	The council has broken this figure down as follows: £29,350 on consultation, £44,500 on detailed design and £407,650 on construction.

Kerrier Home Zone Project

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of Kerrier district council's management of the funds for the North Close Home Zone project.

Charlotte Atkins: Kerrier district council have had no involvement in the management of the funds for the North Close Home Zone project. Cornwall county council are responsible for implementation of the scheme and, therefore, the management of the funds, including the Department's grant from the Home Zones Challenge.
	The payment of grant is subject to terms and conditions which set out the requirements relating to the provision of quarterly finance and progress reports and the need for annual certification by an auditor appointed by the Audit Commission. A copy of the terms and conditions was placed in the House of Commons Library in May 2004.
	The Secretary of State has appointed a consultant to assist with the management of the Home Zones Challenge, to monitor progress of the schemes and to disseminate good practice. Local authority quarterly finance and progress reports are reviewed and summarised by the consultant in reports to the Department and are taken into account in considering and approving payments. The schemes are reviewed regularly at regional meetings and authorities are visited periodically by officials from the Department and/or the programme consultant to review individual schemes.

Local Authority-sponsored Schemes

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what documentation a local authority sponsoring a major transport scheme is required to produce between the confirmation of compulsory purchase orders and the full approval of funding for the scheme.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 17 March 2005
	The Department issued a guidance note to local authorities in December 2004 on the information that local authorities are now required to submit when seeking full approval and release of funding for major transport schemes under the Local Transport Programme. A copy of this guidance will be placed in the House Library.

London Underground

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Government have made of the merits of extending the Central Line of the London Underground network from Shepherd's Bush to Uxbridge.

Tony McNulty: The Government have made no such assessment. Proposals for enhancements to the London Underground network are a matter for the Mayor of London. The Mayor undertook a public consultation exercise on proposals for the West London Tram from Shepherd's Bush to Uxbridge between June and October 2004 and announced the results on 1 March 2005.

Speed Cameras

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations which have been consulted by his Department on its proposal to outlaw equipment which detects the presence of speed cameras; and on which dates they were consulted.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport consulted the following organisations on proposals to prohibit the use of speed assessment equipment detection devices in January 2001.
	ACPO
	Association of British Drivers
	Association of Independent Road Safety Officers
	ALBRSO
	Automobile Association Ltd.
	County Surveyors Society
	CPRE
	Driver Technologies Association
	Institute of Advanced Motorists
	Institute of Road Safety Officers
	Institution of Highways and Transportation
	LARSOA
	Local Government Association
	Magistrates' Association
	Motorcycle Industry Association
	Motorcycle Rider Training Association
	PACTS
	RAC
	Road Danger Reduction Forum
	Road Haulage Association
	RoadPeace
	RoSPA
	Road Haulage Association
	Freight Transport Law
	Confederation of Passenger Transport
	UK Performance Products Ltd.
	Beltronics
	Automotive Distribution Association
	Welsh Assembly
	Scottish Executive
	This proposal was deferred pending primary legislation which would give powers to prohibit a vehicle being fitted with or a person using a vehicle carrying these devices.
	The Road Safety Bill includes such an enabling power. The precise type of devices that would be prohibited would be identified in regulations made under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. A statutory consultation would be held on the secondary legislation proposals.

Train Cancellations

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains in England and Wales were cancelled on each day between 20 February and 1 March, broken down by reason for cancellation.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 March 2005
	The information is not collated centrally in the specific format requested. Provisional figures for the number of cancelled trains for each day in the specified period are given in the following table. However the causes of such cancellations are not available.
	
		Trains cancelled in England and Wales1, 2
		
			 Date Trains cancelled(3) 
		
		
			 20 February 2005 102 
			 21 February 2005 248 
			 22 February 2005 219 
			 23 February 2005 287 
			 24 February 2005 260 
			 25 February 2005 196 
			 26 February 2005 110 
			 27 February 2005 148 
			 28 February 2005 642 
			 1 March 2005 220 
		
	
	(1) Figures for England and Wales are for all franchised train operating companies excluding Scotrail.
	(2) Figures are provisional subject to verification to ensure that recorded cancellations take account of any changes to the number of scheduled trains for reasons such as the need to undertake engineering works or the introduction of emergency timetables.
	(3) Figures relate to cancellations as recorded as part of the Public Performance Measure of train reliability, i.e. trains that did not run as planned or a train that ran but did not complete at least half of its scheduled journey.

TREASURY

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public.

Stephen Timms: The number of accidents reported on HM Treasury's premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of HM Treasury staff and (b) contractors is given as follows. No accidents have been reported by members of the public:
	
		Number of accidents
		
			  Staff Contractors Near miss Total 
		
		
			 2000 13 1 0 14 
			 2001 11 14 1 26 
			 2002 41 10 0 51 
			 2003 39 38 2 79 
			 2004 13 25 0 38

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The data will be published in our departmental annual report 2005.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements for monitoring accidents at work involving members of staff of his Department are in place; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: HM Treasury monitor all reported accidents and near miss incidents, identifying trends. Quarterly statistics are produced for the various Health and Safety Committees. These statistics are included in the Treasury's Annual Health and Safety Report that is submitted to the Board.

Drug Deaths

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths the primary cause was found to be (a) heroin, (b) crack cocaine, (c) cocaine, (d) ecstasy, (e) cannabis, (f) alcohol, (g) solvents and (h) prescription drugs in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Lynne Jones, dated 18 March 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths the primary cause was found to be (a) heroin, (b) crack cocaine, (c) cocaine, (d) ecstasy, (e) cannabis, (f) alcohol, (g) solvents and (h) prescription drugs in each of the last five years. (222621)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2003. Relevant figures are only readily available for deaths where the underlying cause was either related to drug poisoning or directly related to alcohol (alcohol abuse, dependence and poisoning, and diseases directly related to alcohol use). It is not possible to identify from death certificates which substance was the primary cause when more than one was involved. Figures related to the number of deaths on which substances (a) to (e) were mentioned are shown in the table below, together with figures on alcohol-related deaths. Figures are for the calendar years 1999 to 2003.
	Figures on deaths due to volatile solvent abuse are collected separately by Department of Health. Figures on deaths involving prescription drugs are not available as it is not possible to readily identify deaths where an adverse reaction to a particular drug taken in therapeutic dosage was involved. Adverse reactions to drugs are reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency using the yellow card scheme. Figures on deaths from overdoses involving these drugs are available, however some substances are available in prescription and over-the-counter compounds and these cannot be distinguished.
	It should be noted that the figures on drug-related poisoning are not directly comparable to the figures on alcohol for the following reasons.
	The figures on drugs do not include long-term effects of drug taking, whereas the figures on alcohol include cirrhosis of the liver.
	Overdose deaths which involved both drugs and alcohol are coded as due to drug poisoning, in accordance with international rules for coding cause of death.
	The figures on alcohol include only those where the underlying cause was alcohol-related. The figures on specific drugs include any mention of a substance on a death related to drug poisoning. This means a death could be included in more than one row of the table, for example if the deceased took both heroin and cocaine.
	
		Number of alcohol-related deaths(4) and deaths from drug-related poisoning(5) involving selected drugs,(6) England and Wales, 1999 to 2003(7)
		
			 Deaths from drug-related poisoning where the following substances were specifically mentioned 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 (a) Heroin/morphine 754 926 889 790 591 
			 (b)+(c) Cocaine (including crack cocaine)(8) 88 80 96 139 113 
			 (d) Ecstasy 26 36 55 55 33 
			 (e) Cannabis 8 11 15 15 11 
			 (f) Alcohol-related deaths 5,505 5,614 5,970 6,033 6,580 
		
	
	(4) For the years 1999–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes selected to define alcohol-related deaths are listed as follows:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–2003 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were selected:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp 5–14.
	2 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5 for 1999 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14from 2001 onwards.
	3 Drugs mentioned on the death certificate of a death where the underlying cause was drug poisoning.
	4 Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	5 It is not possible to provide separate figures on deaths related to crack cocaine and cocaine from routine mortality data, as these substances are not generally separately identified on death certificates. ONS routinely publishes a combined figure for deaths mentioning cocaine on the death certificate.
	Source of data on deaths related to drug poisoning:
	Tables of deaths related to drug poisoning on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=l1695

Economic Growth

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many quarters of continuous economic growth there have been in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) the UK and (d) Wales from 1997 to the most recent quarter for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Alex Salmond, dated 18 March 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about economic growth in Scotland, England, Wales and the UK. (221491)
	Quarterly GDP data published by the Office for National Statistics show that in the UK there have been 50 consecutive quarters of GDP growth up to and including the fourth quarter of 2004 (chained volume measures). The second quarter of 1992 was the last quarter to show negative GDP growth in real terms, for either the quarter on previous quarter growth rates, or the growth rate of the latest quarter compared to that of the same quarter of the previous year.
	Quarterly GDP data published by the Scottish Executive, show positive growth for Scotland for the last 10 quarters up to and including the third quarter of 2004.
	No separate quarterly economic data is compiled for England or Wales.

EU Finances

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the UK's share of the most recent underspend on the EU's final budget to be repaid to the UK.

Stephen Timms: No underspend from the 2004 EC Budget has yet been announced by the European Commission. Any surplus will, as usual, be returned to member states by reducing the amount which they are required to finance in the 2005 EC Budget. This will be implemented by an Amending Budget tater this year. The surplus from the 2003 EC Budget was returned to member states in this way in Amending Budget 7/2004 implemented from 1 October 2004.

EU Finances

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response his Department will make to the National Audit Office report on financial management of the EU, with particular reference to (a) persistent errors in transactions, (b) failure to comply with regulatory requirements, (c) delays in closing the 1994 to 1999 structured programmes and (d) poor forecasting of expenditure.

Stephen Timms: It would not be appropriate for the Treasury to respond to the National Audit Office's report to Parliament on financial management of the EU.

EU Finances

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made in the EU on the introduction of resource accounting; and what targets will be set to improve budget accounting reliability.

Stephen Timms: The European Commission introduced a system of full accruals accounting on time on 1 January 2005.

G7 Meeting

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the agenda is for the G7 meeting due to take place in April.

Stephen Timms: As set out in Box 2.3 of the 2005 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, the UK sees its leadership of the G7/8 and EU this year as an opportunity to address the key challenges of international poverty reduction; structural economic reform; fairer trade; and climate change. G7 Finance Ministers will continue their discussions on these issues when they meet in Washington in April.

MOD Risk Assessment Reports

Keith Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of the Ministry of Defence's (a) December 2003, (b) July 2004 and (c) December 2004 progress reports produced under the Risk Management Assessment Framework.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Sani Abacha

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether funds have been returned to Nigeria from bank accounts in the UK of the late Sani Abacha in the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The return to Nigeria of any money held in accounts owned by the Abacha family or close associates is dependent on the Nigerian authorities prosecuting individuals for their offences and subsequently, if these individuals are found to be guilty, obtaining a confiscation order against them. An application for enforcement of that order in the UK courts would then be required. I understand that no such confiscation orders have, as yet, been made in Nigeria.
	In line with the recommendations of the Commission for Africa, UK authorities will continue to deliver a range of technical assistance programmes in partnership with Nigerian authorities in relation to anti-money laundering and mutual legal assistance.

School-age Children (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children of school age there have been in each year since 1997 in (a) Essex and (b) Southend.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Amess, dated 18 March 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the school age populations for the county of Essex and Southend Unitary Authority since 1997. (222490)
	Below is a table showing the 1997 to 2003 mid-year population estimates for children aged 5–15 within these areas.
	
		Mid-year population estimates of school age children (5–15)
		
			 Thousand 
			  Essex (county of) Southend UA 
		
		
			 1997 177.9 22.2 
			 1998 178.6 22.3 
			 1999 182.4 22.6 
			 2000 183.7 22.5 
			 2001 184.7 22.4 
			 2002 185.8 22.4 
			 2003 186.5 22.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Energy Policy

David Chaytor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his announcement in the 2004 pre-Budget report, what plans he has to introduce a reduced rate of VAT for micro-combined heat and power units; what data he has collected from field trials; what representations his Department has received from industry; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Budget 2005 announced a reduced rate of VAT for the installation of micro-CHP. This decision was taken in light of ongoing field trials, which are overseen by Defra and sponsored by the Carbon Trust in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust. It also follows representations on this issue from industry and stakeholder groups.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Water Quality

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2005, Official Report, column 247W, on bottled water, what recent assessment has been carried out to determine whether tap water remains stale and undrinkable.

Archy Kirkwood: No recent assessment has been made of whether tap water remains stale and undrinkable.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol Confiscation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the power conferred on local authorities by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 to designate areas where alcohol may be confiscated from individuals have been used in each year since 2001, broken down by local authority area.

Charles Clarke: Since September 2001 over 135 local authority areas have notified the Home Office that they have made designation orders under section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 to restrict antisocial public drinking in areas that have experienced alcohol-related disorder or nuisance. The following list sets out a breakdown of designation orders made in every year. A number of those listed will appear more than once as they have introduced more than one designation order since 2001.
	Local authorities that introduced designation orders:
	September 2001-December 2001
	Herefordshire Council
	Northampton Borough Council
	Brighton and Hove City Council
	2002
	Bedford Borough Council
	Bromley (London Borough of)
	Chelmsford Borough Council
	Cherwell District Council
	Cornwall (North) District Council
	Daventry District Council
	Denbighshire County Council
	Devon (North) District Council
	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Eastbourne Borough Council
	Eastleigh Borough Council
	East Riding (of Yorkshire Council)
	Enfield Council
	Gloucester City Council
	Great Yarmouth
	Haringey Council
	Harrogate Borough Council
	Herefordshire Council
	Hyndburn Borough Council
	Kingston Upon Hull City Council
	Leicester City Council
	Lincolnshire (North East) Council
	Leicestershire (North West) District Council
	Macclesfield (Borough of)
	Manchester City Council
	Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council
	Milton Keynes Council
	Newcastle City Council
	Oadby and Wigston (Borough of)
	Oldham (Metropolitan Borough of)
	Oxford City Council
	Reading Borough Council
	Redditch Borough Council
	Ribble Valley Council
	Shepway District Council
	Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
	Somerset (South) District Council
	Southend on Sea Borough Council
	Staffordshire (South) Council
	Stafford Borough Council
	Stratford Upon Avon District Council
	Stroud District Council
	Sutton (London Borough of)
	Swindon Borough Council
	Taunton Deane Borough Council
	Thanet District Council
	Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
	Warrington Borough Council
	Watford Council
	Westminster City Council
	Wigan Borough Council
	Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
	Windsor and Maidenhead Council
	Wolverhampton Council
	Wrexham County Borough Council
	Wycombe District Council
	2003
	Birmingham City Council
	Brentwood Borough Council
	Breckland Council
	Brighton and Hove City Council
	Bristol City Council
	Broadland District Council
	Burnley Borough Council
	Bury (Metropolitan Borough Council)
	Cherwell District Council
	Craven District Council
	Crewe and Nantwich Council
	Dacorum Borough Council
	Derby City Council
	Devon (Mid) District Council
	Devon (North) District Council
	East Riding (of Yorkshire Council)
	East Staffordshire Borough Council
	Fylde Borough Council
	Harlow Council
	Havant Borough Council
	Kensington and Chelsea (Royal Borough of)
	Kingston Upon Thames (Royal Borough of)
	Lambeth (London Borough of)
	Lewisham (London Borough of)
	Medway Council
	Mendip District Council
	Middlesbrough Borough Council
	Norfolk (North) District Council
	Norwich City Council
	Oldham (Metropolitan Borough of)
	Oxford City Council
	Preston City Council
	Ribble Valley Council
	Salisbury District Council
	Scarborough Borough Council
	Sefton Council
	Somerset (North) Council
	South Bedfordshire District Council
	Stafford Borough Council
	Stoke on Trent Council (City of)
	Stratford Upon Avon District Council
	Surrey Heath Borough Council
	Swansea Council
	Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
	Torbay Council
	Tyneside (North) Council
	Worthing Borough Council
	Wyre Forest District Council
	2004
	Amber Valley Borough Council
	Barking and Dagenham Borough Council
	Barnet (London Borough of)
	Bath and North East Somerset Council
	Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council
	Bexley (London Borough of)
	Birmingham City Council
	Bristol City Council
	Bromley (London Borough of)
	Bromsgrove Council
	Camden (London Borough of)
	Charnwood (Borough of)
	Cherwell District Council
	Chesterfield Borough Council
	Chester City Council
	Coventry City Council
	Derby City Council
	Dorset (East) District Council
	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
	East Riding (Yorkshire Council)
	Gateshead Council
	Gravesham Borough Council
	Hackney (London Borough of)
	Hammersmith and Fulham (London Borough of)
	Harlow Council
	Havering (London Borough of)
	St. Helens Council
	Hertfordshire (East) District Council
	Kingston Upon Hull City Council
	Kingston Upon Thames (Royal Borough of)
	Lewisham (London Borough of)
	Lincolnshire (North) Council
	Milton Keynes Council
	Peterborough City Council
	Poole (Council Borough of)
	Ribble Valley Council
	Rossendale (Borough Council)
	Ryedale District Council
	Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
	Staffordshire (East) Borough Council
	Staffordshire (South) Council
	Stafford Borough Council
	Stevenage Borough Council
	Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
	Sunderland Council (City of)
	Teignbridge District Council
	Waltham Forest (London Borough of)
	Wansbeck District Council
	Wigan Borough Council
	Worcester (City of)
	Westminster City Council
	2005 to date
	St. Albans City and District Council
	Amber Valley Borough Council
	Anglesey (Isle of) County Council
	Cheltenham Borough Council
	Devon (Mid) District Council
	Dorset (East) District Council
	Ealing Borough Council
	Kerrier District Council
	Kingston Upon Hull City Council
	Newcastle City Council
	Wrexham County Borough Council

Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 10 February from the hon. Member for Northavon with regard to a passport application for a constituent, Sa-Sa Ho.

Des Browne: holding answer 16 March 2005
	I replied to the hon. Member on 15 March 2005.

Passports

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the adult population of the United Kingdom had a passport in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Des Browne: At the end of 2004, the percentage of the adult population aged 16 and over that holds a valid passport is within the range of 73 per cent. to 85 per cent.

Police Training

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the average annual cost of employing, training and developing a probationary police constable in each year since 1997.

Charles Clarke: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have estimated that the average salary, training and development costs of a probationary police constable up to independent patrol (which is normally 31 weeks after joining a force) in 2003–04 were £27,048. This figure includes salary costs of £13,993 per probationary police constable for that period and training and development costs of £13,055.
	Information about the associated costs for recruitment, supervision, accommodation, information technology etc. is not collated centrally.
	The average annual costs for all these in each year since 1997 is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prevention of Terrorism

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the legislative provisions to introduce control orders will contain sunset clauses.

Charles Clarke: The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, as now enacted, does not contain a sunset clause, but instead provides for annual renewal of its provisions subject to approval by both Houses.
	In addition, I have informed the House that the Bill to be introduced in the next Session on counter-terrorism offences will provide an opportunity for Parliament, if it so decides, to amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005.

Work Permits

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens from the Isle of Man have been granted work permits in each of the last five years.

Des Browne: No citizens of the Isle of Man have been granted work permits in the last five years. Citizens of the Isle of Man do not require work permits to work in the UK.

DEFENCE

2 Princess of Wales Regiment

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  under whose operational command 2 Princess of Wales Regiment will serve for the duration of their deployment outside their tactical area of responsibility;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) duration of the deployment of 2 Princess of Wales Regiment outside their tactical area of responsibility.

Adam Ingram: The 2nd Battalion, the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (2PWRR) is currently part of the UK-led Multinational Division (South East) (MND(SE)). Elements of 2PWRR have recently relocated to Al Muthanna province within the MND(SE) area of operations. They deployed as part of a Battlegroup, based on the Queen's Dragoon Guards, which is providing framework security and conducting security sector reform in that province. That Battlegroup will continue to carry out those tasks until they are replaced, either by another UK Battlegroup or by a coalition partner.
	All elements of 2PWRR remain under the operational command of the General Officer Commanding MND(SE), with the exception of one platoon which is currently located in Baghdad, where it provides force protection to senior British military personnel. This is a longstanding deployment which predates the arrival of 2PWRR in Iraq.

AWE Aldermaston

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expenditure by his Department on AWE Aldermaston was in each of the last five years; and what expenditure he has allocated for 2005–06.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's expenditure on AWE Aldermaston in each of the past five years is shown in the following table. All costs are at 2004–05 prices. The figure for 2004–05 is provisional. The allocation for 2005–06 has not yet been finalised.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 303 
			 2001–02 284 
			 2002–03 302 
			 2003–04 300 
			 2004–05 312

Civil Servants (Gibraltar)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether local bids will be invited for contracts for work currently carried out by departmental staff in Gibraltar; and whether a bid from existing departmental employees in Gibraltar would be considered.

Adam Ingram: Two areas of work currently being carried out by MOD staff in Gibraltar are being examined for contractorisation.
	Any company, including those from Gibraltar, could tender if it meets published MOD commercial criteria. There is no current policy that precludes a competitive in-house option for tasks currently done in-house.

Iraq

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 17 March 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 1, to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Rooney).

RAF Manual of Flight Safety

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 779W, on RAF Manual of Flight Safety, if he will place a copy of the Seventh Edition of AP 3207 in the Library.

Adam Ingram: I have placed a copy of the seventh Edition of AP 3207 (incorporating Amendment lists 1–3) in the Library of the House today.

Resource Account Codes

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a description of 2004–05 resource account codes (a) GXXWA0 and (b) LM003.

Adam Ingram: The descriptions are as follows:
	GXXWAO
	Cost Communication with Flag Officer Training and Recruitment
	LMA003
	United Kingdom National Insurance Civilian Staff—Loan–United States Air Force Accruing Superannuation.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees of her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department of Trade and Industry publishes data for the number of accidents at work involving employees. This accident data is contained in the Departmental Report. For 2004–05, there have been only two reportable accidents of a minor nature involving employees.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements for monitoring accidents at work involving members of staff of her Department are in place; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Procedures for monitoring accidents are an integral part of the Department's health and safety guidance. There are formal processes in place for recording, analysing and investigating accidents, whether reportable under health and safety legislation or not. Instructions on the reporting and recording of accidents are available to staff on the Departmental intranet and the Department has a team of safety advisers who investigate accidents and ensure appropriate remedial action is taken.

Bank Charges

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will commission research into the (a) reasons for and (b) level of unavoidable miscellaneous charges made by banks, with particular reference to (i) survey fees, (ii) booking fees, (iii) arrangement fees, (iv) higher lending charges fees and (v) sealing of deeds fees; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have no plans to commission research into miscellaneous charges made by banks. The Banking Code requires that signatories give their customers details of any charges for the day-to-day running of their account when they open it, and that they inform their customers personally if they increase any of these charges or introduce a new charge, at least 30 days before the change takes effect. The signatories are also required to tell customers the charge for any other service or product before they provide that service or product, and at any time the customer asks.

Corporate Responsibility

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Department is taking to ensure companies adopt policies to meet social and environmental obligations.

Nigel Griffiths: Companies are bound by legislation on a wide range of social and environmental issues including matters relating to employment terms and conditions, health and safety and environmental protection.
	At national level HMG supports a number of initiatives aimed at improving business social and environmental performance. Within DTI these include:
	Establishment and funding for CSR Academy to mainstream CSR skills into business practice
	Sponsorship of Business in the Community's Corporate Responsibility Index
	Sponsorship of Business in the Community's Annual Awards for Excellence
	Sponsorship of Small Business Consortium's small business journey toolkit for SMEs

Gas Market

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on UK industry and consumers of the recent rises in the cost of gas on the spot market; what proposals she has to bring price stability to the gas market; and what plans she has to reform the operation of the forward market for wholesale gas.

Mike O'Brien: The impact on UK industry of the recent temporary rises in spot gas prices will depend on a variety of factors, including how much gas a particular company uses, the degree of their exposure to spot and/or forward prices and the duration of the high prices. It will also be affected by the energy prices paid by their competitors. The impact on domestic consumers will depend on whether the energy supply companies decide to pass on the costs of what was a short-lived spike in spot prices. Prices in the domestic sector are set to cover a range of weather, including such cold snaps, so we would not expect these peaks to feed into domestic prices.
	The Department is working to ease the potential supply tightness which causes high prices by facilitating investment in gas import infrastructure projects, such as a doubling of the import capacity of the Bacton-Zeebrugge interconnector, new pipelines from Norway and the Netherlands, and three major new Liquefied Natural Gas terminals.
	Regarding the operation of the forward gas market, my Department has commissioned an independent consultant to analyse how it is working, and to propose, if necessary, recommendations for improving it to both Government and industry.

Gas Market

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the recent rises in the forward gas market; and what assessment she has made of the impact the increase in the price for delivery in winter 2006 will have on the competitiveness of UK manufacturing;
	(2)  what action her Department is taking to mitigate the risk of job losses within the manufacturing sector as a result of rises in industrial gas prices; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The forward wholesale price for gas for the first quarter of 2006 averaged around 48p/therm in February 2005, and for the first two weeks of March it has been around 54p/therm. However, the average actual price paid for delivery in the winter tends to be lower than the forward price, and the same may happen in 2006. Nevertheless, 54p/therm is above the forward price in respect of previous winters, driven by changing market views about the tightening winter supply situation.
	The Department has commissioned an independent consultant to analyse the operation of the forward market and, if necessary, to propose recommendations for improving it to both Government and industry.
	The impact on the competitiveness of manufacturing companies will depend on a variety of factors, including how much gas a particular company uses, the degree of their exposure to spot and/or forward prices, and the duration of the high prices. It will also be affected by the energy prices paid by their competitors. We are working with industry to identify ways it can mitigate the effects of high forward gas prices.
	This Government implemented the Manufacturing Strategy in 2002, the first from any Government in over 30 years. In July 2004 we published a review of the Strategy setting out a framework for action to address many of the challenges currently facing manufacturers in the UK. It focuses on support for innovation and skills, and assisting industry to produce smarter, higher-value-added products. This message was reinforced in The DTI Five-Year Programme, published in November 2004.

Industrial Disease (Compensation Claims)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average full and final settlement is for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims and (b) vibration white finger claims, broken down by constituency.

Nigel Griffiths: The figures as of 31 January 2005 are placed in the Libraries of the House today.

Nuclear Decommissioning

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress made by the European Commission on its investigation into the setting up and financing of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, with particular reference to state aid matters.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 17 March 2005
	The UK has recently submitted its comments on the submissions that the Commission has received from third parties. We now expect the Commission to take some time to consider these and other views submitted to it. We stand ready to answer any further questions it might have.

Photovoltaics

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to implement the Energy White Paper commitment to a 2002 to 2012 solar photovoltaics demonstration programme in line with those of the UK's main competitors;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to increase support to the photovoltaic industry as proposed in the Energy White Paper.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Trade and Industry has implemented the Energy White Paper commitment by supporting a "Major Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme" from 2002. This programme is due to end in March 2006, although grants are expected to be paid up to March 2007.
	The Department will continue its support for PV through a "low carbon buildings" programme. The low carbon buildings programme will be the subject of formal consultation later this year. Although the programme will be technology blind, projects incorporating PV will be supported. The programme is expected to begin operating in 2006–07.

Renewables

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of terrawatt hours of electricity generated from renewable sources required to meet the Government's 2010 renewables target.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 17 March 2005
	The 2010 10 per cent. renewable energy target relates to electricity supply to consumers. The latest DTI energy projections indicate that the supply to consumers could be around 330TWh in 2010. This would indicate that to meet the target, renewables generation would need to be 33TWh.
	However it should be noted that at this stage, any estimate is necessarily very approximate.

Unsolicited Phone Calls

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to tackle UK-based organisations using a non-EU company to make unsolicited automated phone calls which would be illegal if made from within the EU.

Mike O'Brien: The Department introduced the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations in 1999, which provides a scheme called the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) scheme. This provides protection to subscribers from unsolicited direct marketing calls, which originate from the UK or are made on behalf of UK companies by non-EU companies, irrespective of whether they are dialled manually or made by an automated computer. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has responsibility for the enforcement of the TPS scheme and considers breaches.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Myanmar about the conditions of the Karen people of Myanmar in refugee camps on the Thai border.

Denis MacShane: We have not made recent representations to the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) about this specific issue. However, we work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide appropriate protection to refugees and to ensure their non-refoulement.
	Britain is the largest EU donor providing assistance to refugees outside the country and to poor people inside Burma. Our funds are channelled through non-government organisations such as the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) as well as through UN agencies and the European Commission. The TBBC provides food and other basic necessities to the Karen refugees in Thailand. This complements the help with schooling given by the Karen Education Partnership.
	We are also doing everything we can to press the Burmese authorities to begin a genuine process of reform involving all political parties and ethnic groups in Burma. A genuine transition to democracy is essential to address the underlying reasons for the displacement of people in Burma.
	The UK co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution of 23 December which condemned human rights violations suffered by ethnic groups in Burma. The resolution called on the regime to
	"end the policy of systematic enforced displacement of persons and other policies leading to displacement within Myanmar and refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to provide the necessary protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and to respect the right of refugees to voluntary, safe and dignified return monitored by appropriate international agencies."

Burma

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ukrainian ambassador on sales of arms to Burma.

Denis MacShane: None.
	However, we and our EU partners have raised our concerns with the Ukrainian authorities about the sale of arms to Burma.
	The UK and other EU countries maintain an embargo on arms to Burma as part of the EU Common Position on Burma. Although Ukraine is not party to this, we will continue to make them aware of our position and encourage them to align themselves with it.

Burundi

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the new power-sharing constitution in Burundi.

Denis MacShane: We welcome the post-transitional Constitution in Burundi, approved by the Regional Peace initiative, and resoundingly endorsed by the Burundian people at the referendum held on 28 February. This is a further step on the path to lasting peace and stability in Burundi.
	We and the rest of the international community now urge all parties in Burundi to work constructively towards holding free and fair elections and bringing about a successful end to the transition.

Cuba

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK delegation's position on Cuba will be at the forthcoming UN Human Rights Commission.

Bill Rammell: We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Cuba. We have not yet seen a text on Cuba at the Commission on Human Rights and therefore can not confirm our position. However in previous years, the UK has supported a resolution on Cuba.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Turkish-Cypriot administration on the number of private properties built in each of the last three years in Northern Cyprus which were purchased by foreign nationals who are neither Greek or Turkish Cypriot; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had on the policy of the Turkish-Cypriot administration in Northern Cyprus on maintaining in good condition the properties that Turkish settlers now live in but to which Greek Cypriots claim ownership; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I met Mr. Talat on 1 July 2004; I also met Mr. Talat and other Turkish Cypriot leaders during my visit to the island in October 2004. On both occasions we discussed a number of Cyprus-related issues. Officials from the British high commission also meet Turkish Cypriot leaders on a regular basis to discuss a full range of issues on the situation in Cyprus, including that of property purchase by foreigners. Through our travel advice and in response to inquiries, we advise potential purchasers of property in the north that there may be significant practical, financial and legal consequences, and we strongly encourage potential buyers to seek independent, qualified legal advice.
	The issue of the condition of properties likely to be affected by the resettlement and compensation provisions of the Annan plan was studied during the "needs assessment" phase of the UN process, with the close support and interest of the UK Government.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of properties in Northern Cyprus legally owned by Greek Cypriots which are occupied by Turkish settlers from mainland Turkey; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have no figures on this aspect of the property issue. As the Foreign Affairs Committee has recently underscored, the complex and deeply felt issues associated with property ownership go to the heart of the situation in Cyprus, and deserve very careful attention within the context of a comprehensive settlement.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  when the last population survey took place in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many (a) Turkish Cypriots born in Cyprus and (b) Turkish settlers he estimates there are in Northern Cyprus; what percentage each represents of the total population; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The last census in the north of Cyprus carried out by the Turkish Cypriot authorities in 1996 found that there were 137,398 Turkish Cypriots and 54,626 people born in mainland Turkey. However, these figures are not universally accepted. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution in 2003 stating that there were 115,000 persons of Turkish mainland origin in the north of Cyprus. The Assembly also noted that in 2001 there were 87,600 Turkish Cypriots in the north of Cyprus. The Assembly's figures too are disputed.
	We believe that the population composition in the north of Cyprus will likely be an important factor in any new settlement negotiations. In that context, universally agreed figures on the demographics of the north would clearly be desirable. But it is for the two sides, in the context of renewed efforts towards achieving a settlement, and in conjunction with the United Nations, to discuss the most appropriate way to deal with demographic issues pertaining to the situation in Cyprus.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Turkish troops are stationed in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have no precise figures of our own. Current estimates range from 20,000 to 35,000.
	Turkey supported the UN Secretary-General's Comprehensive Settlement Plan for Cyprus, which provided for a staged reduction in troop numbers. If the island had reunited on the basis of the plan, Turkish troops would have been reduced by over 80 per cent. by the end of 2007, with a further 50 per cent. reduction within the following four years. Thereafter, the plan allowed for 650 troops to remain in the north of Cyprus, the same number of Turkish troops as set out in the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. This agreement would be subject to regular reviews with a view to eventual withdrawal by mutual consent.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Cypriot administration in Northern Cyprus on its policies to protect and develop the environment;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Cypriot administration on its policy on Greek Cypriots who wish to return to live in Northern Cyprus being able to do so; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor myself have had recent discussions with the Turkish Cypriot administration on these matters. However, officials from the British high commission in Nicosia meet regularly with Turkish Cypriot representatives to discuss the full range of issues related to the situation in Cyprus. One feature of these discussions is the need to improve environmental protection including by use of EU funds in this area.

India

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Indian Government on the UN Convention Against Torture.

Denis MacShane: On the occasion of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's most recent visit to India in February this year, he did not raise specifically the issue of the UN Convention Against Torture with the Indian Government. He did however discuss human rights. The Indian authorities can be in no doubt of our concerns about this.

India

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indian Government concerning the recent violent attacks on members of the Sikh community of Chattisgarh.

Denis MacShane: We are aware of recent violent incidents between members of the Sikh and Hindu communities in Chattisgarh. We continue as a matter of course to raise our concerns with the Indian Government about religious intolerance in India, including attacks against Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. We will continue to urge the Indian authorities to ensure that the right to freedom of religion, enshrined in its constitution, is upheld and that those responsible for attacks against people because of their religion are brought to justice. We remind them that the UK Government condemns the persecution of individuals or groups because of their religion or beliefs. The UK Government believe that the democratic process in India is the best protection for a peaceful and secure country. We appreciate the remarks by Dr. Manmohan Singh in his first press conference as Prime Minister, when he said
	"We are the most tolerant civilisation and we cannot divide people on the basis of religion and race."

Nuclear Weapons

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's undertaking to work towards the total elimination of British nuclear weapons.

Denis MacShane: The United Kingdom is fully committed to its disarmament obligations as a nuclear weapon state recognised by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), including all the undertakings agreed at the 2000 NPT Review Conference. We also support the agreements made at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference that called on the nuclear weapon states to pursue systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating those weapons. We are the only nuclear weapon state that has reduced its nuclear capability to a single weapons system and we have reduced the total explosive power of our nuclear forces by over 70 per cent. since the end of the cold war.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Tax (North Somerset)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much council tax was uncollected within the North Somerset local authority in each of the last five years.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		Council tax collection—North Somerset
		
			 £ million 
			   Of which: 
			  Amount due(5) Collected by end of the financial year Not collected by end of the financial year 
		
		
			 1999–2000 45.566 44.002 1.564 
			 2000–01 49.000 47.380 1.620 
			 2001–02 52.009 50.434 1.575 
			 2002–03 59.235 57.491 1.744 
			 2003–04 69.751 68.863 0.888 
		
	
	(5) Net collectable debit, excluding amounts funded from council tax benefit.
	The amount of council tax ultimately not collected for any particular year is less than that shown in the final column of the above table because collection continues after the end of the financial year. Figures for the amounts ultimately collected are not, however, reported to central Government.

Departmental Accounts

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether Ministers in his Department have issued written instructions to override his Department's accounting officer's objections since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 80W.

Fire Service

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many recorded attacks there were against (a) firefighters while on duty and (b) fire service equipment in (i) Leicester, (ii) Leicester, South and (iii) the UK in each year since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: Since April 2004 fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales have been asked to report attacks on firefighters through the Fire or Incident of Special Interest (FOSI) system. Since that time 428 attacks on firefighters in England and Wales have been reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. There have been no attacks on firefighters reported by Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority.

Local Government

Howard Stoate: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he (a) has taken and (b) is proposing to take to assist the lower level super output areas (SOAs) in (i) Dartford and (ii) the Thames Gateway Growth Area that fall within the most deprived 20 per cent. of lower level SOAs in England and Wales in one or more of the seven sub-themes used in the 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Yvette Cooper: Spending Review 2004 made available over £1 billion of new Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) resources for the period 2006–08 (£525 million for 2006–07 and £525 million for 2007–08). No decision has yet been made on how these new resources will be allocated. The Government want to ensure that we get the most impact from these very substantial funds. We are therefore carefully considering the opinions expressed in the recent consultation exercise to make sure we take full account of the views of key stakeholders involved in delivering neighbourhood renewal at the local level. An announcement on the allocation of these new NRF resources will be made when we have completed our consideration.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal By-Product Regulation

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Animal By-Product Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 requires slaughterhouse waste to be handled in an enclosed space.

Ben Bradshaw: The Animal By-Products Regulation requires that all intermediate plants have a covered space to receive animal by-products. We consider that in general this will also mean that all handling of by-products must be done in that covered space. The Regulation also requires the plant to be constructed in such a way that it is easy to clean and disinfect, and that floors must be laid down in such a way as to facilitate the draining of liquids. The plant must also have appropriate arrangements for protection against pests, such as insects, rodents and birds. In our view, the combination of these requirements is such that it would be necessary for the plant to have a roof, walls and a floor before we can approve it.
	Slaughterhouse waste may contain high-risk material such as Specified Risk Material (SRM). It will usually have a high liquid content, and contain loose fragments of material, thereby increasing the risk of leakage or spillage during handling and the risk of spread by vermin such as rodents or birds. Such waste must therefore be handled in an enclosed space to provide adequate safeguards to protect public and animal health.

Avian Flu

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what agreements are in place with each country which exports poultry feathers to the UK on ensuring that they are not infected with avian influenza; and what measures she has put in place to ensure agreements are adhered to;
	(2)  what tests are carried out in the UK on poultry feathers imported from East Asian countries to establish whether they are infected with avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Import requirements for feathers are set in European Union legislation. Imports of unprocessed feathers are prohibited from countries that are currently under restriction due an outbreak of Avian Influenza (HPAI).
	Community legislation allows import of processed feathers. Every consignment of processed feathers from countries under restriction because of Avian Influenza are veterinary checked at the Border Inspection Post on entry to the EU. Imports of processed feathers from these countries must be accompanied by a commercial document stating that the feathers have been cleaned with a steam current and heated to at least 70°.
	Unprocessed feathers are banned from countries under restrictions due to Avian Influenza. They would be easily detectable by smell or sight as they are highly susceptible to deterioration in transit and would be foul-smelling.
	Cleaning feathers with a steam current and heated to at least 70° is considered effective in significantly reducing the quantity of virus, if present, to a negligible level. Therefore no further testing is carried out.

Avian Flu

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk of avian influenza being transmitted from imported poultry feathers.

Ben Bradshaw: In January 2004 Defra carried out a full veterinary risk assessment of the risk of importing avian influenza from a variety of products, including feathers. The assessment is available on the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/avianinfluenza_asia.htm

Avian Flu

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quantity of poultry feathers were imported into the UK from each East Asian country in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: UK imports of feathers from Asia, 2000–04.
	
		tonnes
		
			 Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 China 827 887 1,276 827 1,867 
			 Taiwan 768 562 795 1,000 817 
			 Vietnam 340 246 54 9 52 
			 Hong Kong 82 19 2 237 21 
			 Singapore — — — 15 0 
			 Pakistan — — — — 13 
			 India 0 1 1 0 1 
			 Grand total 2,018 1,716 2,127 2,088 2,771 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, Defra
	2004 data is subject to amendments until 30 June 2005

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what input she will seek from (a) hon. Members, (b) farmers and (c) conservation groups in developing a transparent process for making policy decisions on whether badger culling will form part of future policy for controlling bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain was published on 1 March. Among other things, it sets out how policy decisions on wildlife controls will be reached.
	The Government are committed to establishing a new advisory group on bTB to advise the Chief Veterinary Officer and Ministers on policy options and delivery developments, to co-ordinate action taken in England, Wales and Scotland and ensure that decisions at a national or regional level are made in accordance with the principles set out in the Framework. I envisage the new group will be in place by the end of 2005 with membership including those with farmed animal experience and conservation experience.
	I expect hon. Members, including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, will continue to be interested in the development of new policies in this area.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the current incidence of bovine tuberculosis in Stafford constituency; and if she will take action to reduce such incidence.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not available on a constituency basis. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) data is held by county or Animal Health Divisional Office area.
	The incidence of bovine TB in cattle in Staffordshire in 2004 was 6.56 per cent. 1 . The corresponding figure for Great Britain in 2004 was 3.45 per cent.
	Our aim to achieve a sustained reduction in disease incidence in cattle in high incidence areas, as well as slow down and prevent the geographic spread of bovine TB to areas currently free of the disease, forms part of our overall vision for the control of TB for the next 10 years. This is set out in the Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine TB which was published on 1 March.
	1 Incidence is defined as confirmed new herd incidents as a percentage of tests on unrestricted herds. Data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on the 8–11 March 2005. This is provisional data, which is subject to change as outstanding TB test and culture results become available.

Cetaceans

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the voyages since 1 January 2002 on which (a) her officials and (b) agency officials were present and witnessed dolphin by-catches in trawling nets; and what (i) documentary evidence was assembled, including photographs and videos and (ii) written reports were subsequently produced.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 March 2005
	As part of Defra-funded research into cetacean by-catch, the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) has placed observers on a range of trawl fisheries to monitor cetacean by-catch. By-catch has not been observed by any other officials and, to date, by-catch has only been witnessed by SMRU in the pair trawl fishery for bass. From 1 January 2002 to the end of the last fishing season for bass in spring 2004, observations were made covering 352 hauls in which a total of 207 dolphin casualties were observed. It is not possible to provide a list of voyages.
	The full details of this research are set out in the following reports produced by SMRU for Defra, available via the Defra website:
	"Analysis and mitigation of cetacean by-catch" (reference MF0726)
	"By-catch reduction in pelagic trawl fisheries" (MF0733)
	"Further development of a dolphin exclusion device" (MF0735)
	"Monitoring, impact and mitigation of marine mammal by-catch" (MF0736)
	A video was produced by SMRU as part of the work on the development of a dolphin exclusion device, reported above.
	Full details of the results of this research were also summarised in the evidence presented by Defra to the House of Commons EFRA Committee Inquiry into cetacean by-catch and contained in the report published by this Committee in January 2004.

Chemicals (EU Authorisation)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to discuss REACH during its EU Presidency; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: REACH is a priority for the UK Government's forthcoming EU Presidency. The Government are working very closely with the Luxembourg Presidency to ensure that substantial progress is made in the negotiations in 2005. Building on the work conducted to date both in the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, the two Presidencies will invest major efforts on the REACH Regulation with the aim of reaching political agreement by the end of 2005 based on an effective balance between economic, social and environmental considerations.

Climate Change

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1639, to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Tony Lloyd) on climate change, what the results were of her discussions with newly developing countries, with particular reference to those with substantial and growing energy needs; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, together with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry jointly hosted a round table for the energy and environment Ministers from 20 countries, including the emerging economies, on 15–16 March.
	This was an innovative event which enabled us to explore common ground and begin to build a shared agenda to tackle issues of access to energy for development, energy security, and environmental protection.
	A summary of proceedings will be placed on the Defra and DTI websites shortly.

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Countryside Stewardship payments for 2004 have been paid.

Elliot Morley: Latest figures show that there have been 25,908 Countryside Stewardship Scheme payments made during the scheme year 2003–04. This figure represents some 97 per cent. of claims received.

Emissions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons industries subject to the requirements of the National Allocation Plan are not exempt from the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: Directive 2003/87/EC established the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Article 9 requires each member state to develop a National Allocation Plan (NAP) stating the total quantity of allowances that it intends to allocate and how it intends to allocate them to installations. The NAP is therefore an integral part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Installations which are covered by the Directive must be listed in the NAP and cannot be exempted from the scheme unless they are temporarily excluded from the scheme under Article 27 of the Directive.

Fallen Stock

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers have (a) signed up to and (b) withdrawn from the National Fallen Stock Collection Scheme since it was established.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Company Ltd. reports that in the first three months of the scheme operating just over 25,000 members had signed up to the scheme. In the corresponding period just under 500 members initially applied to join the scheme but withdrew their application before payment of the subscription fee was processed.

Fallen Stock

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the Fallen Stock Collection Service in Lancashire; and how many farmers are using the scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Fallen Stock Company Ltd. reports that there are currently eight collectors registered to collect fallen stock under the Scheme in Lancashire.
	Further information on the scheme as it applies to Lancashire is not available. However, the National Fallen Stock Company Ltd. reports that after just over three months of operation it already has over 25,000 members. Whilst acknowledging there have been teething problems with collection of fallen stock in some parts of the country, the National Fallen Stock Company reports that it is pleased with the response and that the scheme is generally working well.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty takes account of fisheries provisions negotiated by those member states that joined the EU in 1995.

Ben Bradshaw: No assessment has been made of the fisheries provisions relating to the member states which joined the EU in 1995 in the context of the EU Constitution.

Flood Defences (Sheerness)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  who is responsible for making sure the floodgates in the sea wall are closed properly when there is an exceptional tide at Sheerness;
	(2)  who is responsible for the floodgates in the sea wall at Sheerness.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency and its predecessors constructed the flood defences along the Sheerness frontage on the Isle of Sheppey and retains overall responsibility for the floodgates and floodwalls. The Agency is responsible for issuing tidal flood warnings and ensuring the floodgates are closed as necessary.
	The Environment Agency operates the Queenborough tidal flood barrier, located across the Queenborough Creek, but there are local agreements in place with Swale borough council and private landowners to operate all other floodgates along the Sheerness frontage.
	Visual inspection to confirm the integrity of the sea defences, and the closure of all the floodgates on the Sheerness frontage, is also undertaken by the Agency during exceptional tides.
	Full details of which floodgates are operated by Swale borough council and local landowners are as follows:
	Swale borough council is responsible for closing floodgates at:
	The Broadway The Esplanade, Beech Street, Sheerness
	Cheyne Rock
	Queenborough Hard
	Crundalls Wharf, North Road, Queenborough
	Tesco, Bridge Road, Sheerness
	Shellness Road
	Elmley Ferry
	Warden Bay Promenade
	Warden Bay, Jetty Road
	Local landowners are responsible for closing floodgates at:
	Bretts, Chalk Wharf Canning Town
	Ship Breaking Ltd., Queenborough Rolling Mill
	Abbots Laboratories, Abbotts Slipway, Queenborough
	Medway Ports, Sheerness Docks, Sheerness, Kent
	Additionally, the Environment Agency undertakes routine maintenance inspections of all the floodgates every two months, and carries out the actions arising from these inspections that may include capital expenditure—for example to replace worn out gates.

Fuel Poverty

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on alleviating fuel poverty in the boroughs of (a) Southend-on-Sea and (b) Thurrock in each year from 1995 to 2004.

Elliot Morley: The Warm Front Scheme, the major programme to tackle the problem of fuel poverty in the private sector in England, was launched in June 2000. Between June 2000 and the end of December 2004 expenditure in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each financial year was:
	
		£
		
			  Southend-on-Sea Thurrock 
		
		
			 2000–01(6) 53,700 18,600 
			 2001–02 333,900 109,500 
			 2002–03 304,500 101,250 
			 2003–04 394,150 100,000 
			 2004–05(7) 372,250 173,500 
		
	
	(6) June to March.
	(7) April to December 2004
	The annual estimated expenditure under the previous Home Energy Efficiency Scheme from April 1995 to May 2000 for Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock was:
	
		£
		
			  Southend-on-Sea Thurrock 
		
		
			 1995–96 377,350 98,350 
			 1996–97 311,850 70,100 
			 1997–98 231,900 215,850 
			 1998–99 203,750 298,700 
			 1999–2000(8) 84,500 392,650 
		
	
	(8) To May 2000.

Pet Animals

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans (a) to sign and (b) to ratify the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals.

Ben Bradshaw: We intend to review further the UK's position on the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals once the Animal Welfare Bill has become law.

Radiation Risks

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes her Department plans to its (a) policies and (b) regulatory practices following the recommendations of the Report of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters, with particular reference to risk estimates.

Elliot Morley: I have considered the Report of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters (CERRIE), along with the report of its parent body, the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE).
	On matters to do with radiation and health, we would take advice from COMARE, the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the Department of Health (DH). DH, as well as Defra, co-sponsored CERRIE. DH, through its radiation research programme, will respond to COMARE's recommendation that further work is required to address the uncertainties associated with determining the risk from internal emitters. We look forward to any further practical advice from COMARE or DH as to how uncertainty should be addressed either through policy or the regulatory regime. In the meantime, we shall be encouraging consideration of uncertainty whenever radiation risk is calculated.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to review low level radioactive waste management policy.

Elliot Morley: I have agreed with ministerial colleagues within UK Government and the devolved administrations that a review of policy for the long-term management of the UK's low level radioactive waste (LLW) should be carried out.
	LLW is generated by a wide range of activities involving the use of radioactive substances. They include the operation of nuclear reactors, the operation of other nuclear processing facilities, the decommissioning and clean up of nuclear sites, non-nuclear industrial activities, the medical use of radioactive materials, and research and educational activities.
	While relatively low, the level of radioactivity in LLW can span a very wide range (about five orders of magnitude). Not least because of this, it has been managed in a number of ways in the past: using the national disposal facility at Drigg in Cumbria, using various forms of disposal on the nuclear site on which the waste was generated, using controlled burial to landfill and, for small quantities of very low level waste, through disposal with other ordinary refuse.
	What has now changed is that with many nuclear sites and facilities moving into their decommissioning phase, and with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) being set up to deal with this, it has been increasingly recognised that there will be a very large volume of LLW to be dealt with. Potentially this could fill the Drigg disposal facility a number of times over.
	The kinds of issue that are going to have to be addressed in the review are as follows. Should we use up existing capacity in the Drigg facility—which is a relatively expensive management option—on very low activity wastes (i.e. how do we best use the Drigg facility as a national asset?). Does it make sense to dig up very large quantities of very low activity waste and transport it around the country to bury at some other site? Is controlled burial to landfill off-site appropriate for nuclear waste, or should we be looking to a greater use of on-site burial under suitably controlled and regulated conditions? For whatever approach is identified, what is the likely timing of the existing Drigg facility becoming full, and what need for action does this imply?
	The proposed policy review is intended to consider these kinds of issues. The aim is to identify a policy framework, which will update that set out in the 1995 White Paper "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Final Conclusions" (Cm2919) to cover the future management of LLW, notably by the NDA. The aim of such a policy statement is not to address the detail of the individual LLW management decisions that have to be made, but rather to define the high level framework—requirements and principles—within which such decisions must be made.
	The initial stages are being overseen by a Steering Group drawn from the Government's Radioactive Waste Policy Group (RWPG). RWPG is made up of UK Government, devolved administrations and regulatory body representatives and meets regularly, several times a year, to discuss radioactive waste management policy and regulatory issues. The Steering Group is organising two national stakeholder workshops during the course of 2005 to support consideration of the issues and possible solutions. This work will contribute to the preparation and issue of a Government consultation on the revised policy proposals to be issued around the turn of the year.
	The LLW long-term management policy review will be carried out in parallel with the work of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which is assessing options for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity wastes. In contrast to CoRWM's work the issue for LLW is not that of identifying the best long-term management option itself, but rather how best to apply those forms of long-term management that already exist.
	Clearly there may be some interdependencies between the LLW management policy review and the work of CoRWM. These will be kept under review and managed by RWPG Committee as the work proceeds.

"Securing the Future"

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods she plans to use to publicise the new UK sustainable development strategy, "Securing the Future", with particular reference to schools, colleges and universities.

Elliot Morley: The Department has developed a forward-looking communications strategy to publicise the strategy to ensure it reaches key audiences. For some stakeholders, more tailored strategic guidance and advice, drawing on "Securing the future", will be produced and publicised. As reflected in the Strategy, schools, colleges and universities are already developing awareness of sustainable development issues in light of DfES' Sustainable Development Action Plan, and resources to help educators consider these issues will be examined in light of the new strategy.

State Veterinary Service

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the capacity of the State Veterinary Service to meet statutory requirements on (a) farm inspections, (b) abattoir inspections, (c) bovine TB controls and (d) other departmental veterinary responsibilities.

Ben Bradshaw: The role of the State Veterinary Service is to implement and enforce specific national and EU legislation and regulations relating to animal welfare, the control and eradication of animal diseases and the facilitation of international trade, as agreed with Defra and the devolved Administrations. Implementation and enforcement activities include investigation, inspection and surveillance, licensing, certification and registration. It has specific responsibilities and functions in the case of any outbreak of exotic or other animal disease, which are set out in detailed departmental contingency plans. Abattoir inspections fall within the Food Standards Agency remit.
	Reviews of the SVS' resources and work demands are conducted regularly and there are regular performance reports and reviews (reviews are normally quarterly). The outcome of external inspections, EU missions for example, are also monitored.
	The Programme preparing for the launch of the SVS as an Executive Agency has included a recent audit of the SVS' Corporate Governance, Finance and Risk Management Systems.

Wildlife Crimes

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many criminal prosecutions for crimes against wildlife in England and Wales were completed in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Elliot Morley: Many different pieces of legislation create offences protecting wildlife. Prosecutions are brought both publicly and privately but comprehensive information about them is not held centrally.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Further Education (Bromley)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether it is her policy fully to fund courses for adults at level 3 in further education in Bromley in 2005–06;
	(2)  whether it is her policy to increase fees for courses above level 2 for adults in further education in Bromley in 2005–06.

Kim Howells: It is our policy to ensure that those groups of people benefiting from fully funded further education provision will continue to do so. There will be no change in the fee concessions arrangements that help unemployed people, those on income-based benefits, and retired people and working families on low incomes, to access further education. We will continue to make substantial levels of public funding available to all, which covers the largest part of the cost of courses, but we also expect adult learners who can afford to do so to make a contribution to the costs of their learning. Those people already qualified at level 2, or not in one of our priority groups, will on average pay a higher fee contribution in 2005–06 unless they qualify for fee concessions.

Further Education (Bromley)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average funding per student in (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth forms in schools in the London borough of Bromley is in 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council. The Department does not collect or hold information at the level requested. Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's chief executive will write to the right hon. Member with details of the average funding per student in (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth forms in schools in the London borough of Bromley for 2004–05. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Library.

School Funding (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding per pupil was allocated for (a) primary and (b) secondary school education in Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 273W.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Figures on costs of cleaning the Department are not fully available for each year prior to 2002 for the Cabinet Office's central London estate.
	It is not possible to identify separately cleaning costs at the Centre for Management and Policy Studies College residential and non-residential training sites, Emergency Planning College residential training site and Government News Network, as cleaning services are either provided as part of a wider facilities management contract or paid for as part of rent paid for leased property.
	Cleaning costs for the remainder of the Department are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,043,561 
			 2003–04 1,237,898

Departmental Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on postage by the Department in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Spending on postage by the Cabinet Office in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 770 
			 1998–99 596 
			 1999–2000 492 
			 2000–01 667 
			 2001–02 490 
			 2002–03 840 
			 2003–04 961 
		
	
	In general, all mail sent to UK addresses is sent 'Second Class' unless marked 'First Class' or 'Special Delivery'.
	The increase in expenditure since 2001–02 is due to the Cabinet Office's widening span of responsibilities in recent years and Machinery of Government changes.

Government Websites

Richard Allan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action he is taking to prevent UK Government websites from being compromised by (a) denial of service and (b) phishing.

David Miliband: The UK Government have a continuous programme of work that identifies vulnerabilities and prevents damage to the critical national infrastructure, public sector networks and other interdependent information systems.
	Government policy advises all departments on the appropriate measures required to prevent UK Government websites from being compromised.
	Phishing is a form of social engineering that has become very common over the past 18 months. Criminals use this technique to deceive people into disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account details or other valuable information.
	At present, we have not seen large-scale phishing attacks against UK Government websites. However, we continue to be concerned about these criminal activities, and are therefore working to raise public awareness of the threat. Government have recently launched the IT safe website (www.itsafe.gov.uk) aimed at providing plain English advice and warnings to the general public.
	The UK Government are also working with law enforcement and industry on Project Endurance to increase awareness and promote information and advice to online users to give them the confidence to use the internet safely and securely.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

New Opportunities Fund

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to Edinburgh, North and Leith in each year since 1997.

Estelle Morris: The following table shows the amount awarded to Lottery projects by the New Opportunities Fund in the constituency of Edinburgh, North and Leith.
	
		
			  Amount awarded (£) 
		
		
			 2000 250,773 
			 2001 1,336,259 
			 2002 1,105,254 
			 2003 1,084,276 
			 2004 358,891 
			 2005 69,961 
			 Total 4,205,414 
		
	
	This information is freely available from the Department's searchable Lottery award database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what levels of benefit fraud have been detected in Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber in each of the last three years.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.

Benefit Fraud

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much it costs to run the Benefit Fraud hotline in each of the last three years; and how many calls it received in each year.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		National benefit fraud hotline-operational costs and calls received
		
			  Operational costs (£) Calls received 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,086,000 205,999 
			 2002–03 959,277 159,290 
			 2003–04 1,038,505 (9)21 3,471 
		
	
	(9) Includes 2,421 calls received by the Local Authority Fraud Hotline which commenced in September 2003.
	Notes:
	1. Operational costs include staffing, goods and service costs.
	2. The operational costs of administering the National Benefit Fraud Hotline include the costs of administering the report-a-cheat-online service. These costs cannot be separated.
	Source:
	National Benefit Fraud Hotline.

Council Tax Benefit

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to increase council tax benefit take-up; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: Last year we launched a council tax benefit awareness campaign and we are continuing to support local authorities in raising awareness of council tax benefit in the run-up to, and during, this year's billing round, supported by new posters and flyers, and by press advertising.
	National advertising started on 10 January, followed by two weeks of regional press advertising. Further regional press advertising will be released in early March, to coincide with the issue of the council tax bills.
	A copy of the council tax benefit flyer was issued with winter fuel payment notification letters, going to around 12 million pensioners encouraging them to "Cut your Council Tax—Find out if you should be paying less."
	Flyers are also available in doctors' surgeries, and have been issued to over 20,000 organisations dealing with older people. An electronic version of the flyer is also available for local authorities to download and include with their council tax bills; they can also include a coupon for those who want to claim council tax benefit to fill in and return to their local authority.
	We are checking whether those who have already claimed pension credit have claimed CTB (and HB) if appropriate, too, so that we can encourage those who have not claimed to apply—and similarly whether those on HB/CTB have applied for pension credit.

Council Tax Benefit

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Leeds, West receive council tax benefit; and what the total amount of such benefit was in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.

Fuel Direct

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend the fuel direct payment system to include customers who are not in debt; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: There are no plans to extend the fuel direct scheme to include customers who are not in debt, nor any to curb its existing provisions. Such a modification would run counter to our policy of promoting financial inclusion by encouraging people to take advantage of direct debit facilities in bank accounts to pay bills. It would also be incompatible with our aims of achieving a fair and reasonable balance between rights and personal responsibilities, and maintaining the momentum from welfare dependency into work for all those who can.

Homeless People (Education)

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his plans to reform the 16-hour rule to enable young homeless people to study full-time while in receipt of housing benefit.

Chris Pond: We are currently reviewing the part-time study rules for jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit recipients. We expect the review to be completed by the autumn.

Income Statistics

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the average net income after tax and benefits in (a) cash and (b) real terms for (i) each quartile, (ii) two parent families with children, (iii) single parent families with children, (iv) single pensioner households and (v) pensioner couples in (A) the City of York and (B) Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 1996–97.

Chris Pond: The information requested is not available. DWP statisticians are reviewing regional-level estimates and hope to release such estimates as they deem robust, combining years from the Family Resources Survey, when further investigations are complete.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the levels of jobseeker's allowance were in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; what plans he has to increase the levels of jobseeker's allowance in 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Jobseeker's allowance weekly rates of allowances and premiums
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Contribution based JSA—personal allowances 
			 under 18 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 18 to 24 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 25 or over 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 
			 Income-based JSA—personal allowances 
			 under 18 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 18 to 24 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 25 or over 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 Lone parent
			 under 18-usual rate 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 under 18-higher rate payable in specific circumstances 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 18 or over 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 Couple
			 both under 18 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 both under 18, one disabled 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 both under 18, with responsibility for a child 65.30 66.50 67.15 
			 one under 18, one 18–24 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 one under 18, one 25+ 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 both 18 or over 85.75 87.30 88.15 
			 Dependent children 
			 from birth to September following 16th birthday 38.50 42.27 43.88 
			 from September following 16th birthday to day before 19th birthday 38.50 42.27 43.88 
			 
			 Premiums
			 family 15.75 15.95 16.10 
			 family (lone parent rate) 15.90 15.95 16.10 
			 Pensioner
			 single 47.45 49.80 53.25 
			 couple 70.05 73.65 78.90 
			 Pensioner (enhanced)   
			 single 47.45 49.80 53.25 
			 couple 70.05 73.65 78.90 
			 Pensioner (higher) 
			 single 47.45 49.80 53.25 
			 couple 70.05 73.65 78.90 
			 Disability
			 single 23.30 23.70 23.95 
			 couple 33.25 33.85 34.20 
			 enhanced disability premium single rate 11.40 11.60 11.70 
			 disabled child rate 16.60 17.08 17.71 
			 couple rate 16.45 16.75 16.90 
			 Severe disability
			 single 42.95 44.15 45.50 
			 couple (lower rate) 42.95 44.15 45.50 
			 couple (higher rate) 85.90 88.30 91.00 
			 disabled child 41.30 42.49 43.89 
			 carer 25.10 25.55 25.80 
			 bereavement 22.80 23.95 25.85 
			 
			 Allowances for personal expenses for claimants in hospital: 
			 higher rate 19.35 19.35 20.50 
			 lower rate 15.50 15.90 16.40

Low-income Households (Weston-super-Mare)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners he estimates are living below the poverty line within the Weston-super-Mare constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: Poverty is about more than low income; it is also about other important factors in people's lives: their health, housing and the quality of their environment. The sixth annual "Opportunity for All" report (Cm 6239), published in September 2004, sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.
	Information on the number of pensioners on low incomes in individual local authorities is not available.
	5,151 pensioner households in Weston-Super-Mare were benefiting from the pension credit as at end of December 2004.

Low-income Households (Weston-super-Mare)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households below average income there are in (a) the South West and (b) Weston-super-Mare constituency.

Chris Pond: In 2002–03, an estimated 65 per cent. of households in the South West had incomes below the national mean on the Before Housing Costs income measure, and 64 per cent. on the After Housing Costs measure.
	These estimates use the same definition of income used in the Households Below Average Income Series, which is sourced from the Family Resources Survey. It is not possible to provide robust estimates for (b) because of small sample sizes.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which contracts for the delivery of the new deal self-employment programme will be terminated at the end of financial year 2004–05;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the future of the new deal programme for self-employment.

Jane Kennedy: There is no separate new deal self-employment programme although participants on new deal can receive advice and guidance on self employment, and can undertake test trading through new deal and work-based learning for adults.
	We are in the process of informing new deal contractors whether their contracts are being renewed or not and, therefore, this information is currently commercial in confidence.
	The paper 'Building on New Deal (BoND): local solutions meeting individual needs', published in June 2004, sets out our approach to the development of our welfare to work strategy. This is available in the Library. The BoND programme will deliver a single new deal which will be accessible to all eligible customers. Self-employment support will feature within the BoND menu.

Skills Training (Over-50s)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason people over the age of 50 are not eligible to receive skills training for the first six months of their unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We focus our resources on those people who need the most help to find employment. Around three quarters of unemployed people aged 50 and over stop claiming jobseeker's allowance within six months. Where we know the destination of these people, about three quarters move into work.
	New Deal 50 Plus eligibility, and access to skills training through Work Based Learning for Adults in England, is set at six months to specifically help those people who continue to claim benefits and are in need of extra support to move into work.
	Our policies are designed to give people aged over 50 real choice to remain in, or rejoin, the workforce and to decide when and how they retire. In May we will be launching a national guidance campaign to raise employers' awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities in order to increase the recruitment, retention and training of older workers.
	People on jobseeker's allowance are eligible for further education provision which includes skills (vocational) learning, as long as they continue to meet the jobseeker's allowance conditions for being available for work. They, and their dependants, do not have to contribute towards their tuition fees. There is no minimum time on jobseeker's allowance for further education fee concessions.

Income Support (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families with children in Tamworth have been in receipt of income support for more than one year.

Chris Pond: 1,000 families with dependent children up to the age of 19 have been in receipt of income support for more than one year in Tamworth.
	Notes:
	1. Sample taken in November 2004
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.
	3. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples, November 2004.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Businesses (Strangford)

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new business start-ups have been recorded by Invest NI in the Strangford constituency in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: The following table provides information relating to the number of business start-ups offered assistance in the Strangford constituency during the four years 2000–01 to 2003–04 and the 11 month period from 1 April 2004 to end February 2005.
	
		Strangford parliamentary constituency
		
			  Offers to new business starts 
		
		
			 2000–01 10 
			 2001–02 45 
			 2002–03 121 
			 2003–04 174 
			 2004–05(10) 174 
			 Total 524 
		
	
	(10) Figures provided for the 11 month period up to end of February 2005
	The total of 524 includes offers to new starts provided through the Start a Business Programme, for which information at a parliamentary constituency area level is available only from September 2001.
	The total amount of assistance offered to these starts was £1.2 million, which contributes towards an overall estimated planned investment of £8.7 million within the constituency.

Cross-border Bodies

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the staffing costs of each cross-border body have been as a percentage of total expenditure in each year since their creation; and how many staff work for each body.

Paul Murphy: The information requested is provided in the following tables.
	
		Staff costs of each cross-border body expressed as a percentage of total expenditure
		
			 Body 2000(11) 2001 2002 2003 2004(12) 
		
		
			 Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission 57 54 50 53 45 
			 Waterways Ireland 38 40 34 49 42 
			 The Trade and Business Development Body 27 31 22 21 21 
			 Special EU Programmes Body 52 32 50 58 No figures available(13) 
			 The North/South Language Body(14) 13 11 9 10 13 
			 The Food Safety Promotion Board 8 12 17 14 17 
			 Tourism Ireland Ltd. n/a 4 18 19 19 
		
	
	(11) This cover the period 2 December 1999 to 31 December 2000
	(12) The figures for 2004 are provisional as accounts have yet to be finalised.
	(13) The Special European Programmes Body draft accounts for 2004 are still in preparation.
	4 The figures quoted for the North/South Language Body for the years 2001–04 are based on unaudited accounts.
	
		Whole-time equivalent numbers of staff employed as at7 February 2005
		
			 Body Number employed 
		
		
			 Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission 42 
			 Waterways Ireland 340 
			 The Trade and Business Development Body 39.8 
			 Special EU Programmes Body 44 
			 The North/South Language Body 49.2 
			 The Food Safety Promotion Board 34 
			 Tourism Ireland Ltd. 148

Downpatrick Regional Planning Office

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning personnel are employed in the Downpatrick Regional Planning Office; how many planning personnel are responsible for planning matters in (a) the Ards borough council area and (b) the Castlereagh borough council area; and whether he plans to increase the resources available to the Northern Ireland Planning Service.

Angela Smith: Within the Downpatrick Divisional Planning Office, on the Operations Side, there is a staff complement of 52 with 47 staff currently in post.
	There are currently 14 staff within Ards borough council area and eight staff in the Castlereagh borough council area responsible for planning matters.
	Significant additional resources have been allocated to the Planning Service over the last few years in order to employ additional staff. During 2004–05 the Planning Service has sought to recruit 125 additional staff. The Agency now has a complement of 803 staff with 756 staff in post. Workloads in the Planning Service are reviewed regularly as is the need for additional resources.

Downpatrick Regional Planning Office

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning submissions the Downpatrick Regional Planning Office received from the Ards borough council area in the last (a) 12 months, (b) 24 months, (c) 36 months and (d) 48 months.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Applications received in Ards borough 
		
		
			 Last 12 months 1,537 
			 Last 24 months 2,656 
			 Last 36 months 3,864 
			 Last 48 months 4,863 
		
	
	Note:
	For calculation purposes the 12-month period runs from 1 March until end of February.

Inward Investment

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans Invest NI have to market Newtownards as a preferred location for future inward investment; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The focus of Invest NI's international sales and marketing effort is to promote aggressively all areas of Northern Ireland, including Newtownards, as an attractive and viable location for new inward investment opportunities, in what is a very competitive global marketplace. In recent years the shift in foreign direct investment flows towards service industries has increasingly witnessed new investment, mainly from the financial services and software sectors, wishing to locate within the larger labour pools available in Northern Ireland.
	Invest NI's local offices continue to work closely with key stakeholders to understand and ensure that detailed information on sub-regional sales propositions, including Newtownards, is available to potential investors.
	While Invest NI continues to encourage new foreign direct investment to Northern Ireland, it also remains committed to strengthening the international competitiveness of local companies. From 2002–04, Invest NI made 72 offers of assistance totalling £3.88 million to existing companies in the Ards borough council area against investments of £15.5 million. This support was offered through a wide range of programmes.

Inward Investment

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place between the local enterprise agency, Invest NI and Ards borough council regarding inward investment in the Newtownards area.

Barry Gardiner: Invest NI and its enterprise partners are working with Ards borough council to develop the local economy within the Newtownards region. Invest NI is committed to working closely with others engaged in economic development, and this includes regular attendance at Ards borough council's economic sub-committee meetings, at which inward investment issues are discussed.
	With the continuing movement in global foreign development investment trends from manufacturing to predominantly tradable service-based sectors, potential investors place an increasing emphasis on locations within larger labour pools providing good infrastructure or close proximity to University Centres of Excellence.
	Invest NI cannot dictate where companies locate but the interaction and co-operation of local stakeholders are important in promoting opportunities for investors to consider areas such as Ards as a potential location. Invest NI has, in the past few years, taken 10 visitors to view locations in Newtownards as part of their visiting itineraries.

NHS (Private Operations)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of operations carried out privately on behalf of the NHS in Northern Ireland was in each of the past four years, broken down by health board.

John Spellar: The cost of health care purchased by Health and Social Service Boards from independent sector hospitals in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland across all programmes of care for 2003–04 was:
	
		Expenditure on private health care purchased from independent sector hospitals in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Republic of Ireland
		
			 HSS board area Year ended March 2004 (£000) 
		
		
			 Northern 2,213 
			 Southern 0 
			 Eastern 120 
			 Western 0 
			 Total 2,333 
		
	
	Further information is not available centrally.

HEALTH

Cancelled Operations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to compensate those who have incurred nugatory expenditure as a result of the cancellation of operations.

John Hutton: holding answer 17 March 2005
	Guidance on "special payments", including ex-gratia payments, is contained in the National Health Service Manual for Accounts.
	NHS bodies must consider each case on its merits. However, they are able to make ex-gratia payments, generally in cases where there has been financial loss incurred by the complainant, as a result of the actions or omissions of the relevant NHS body.
	In exceptional circumstances, payments may also be made where there has been no financial loss, or in "discovered cases" of maladministration where no complaint has been made.

Childhood Leukaemia

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the report on research by the Childhood Cancer Research Group at Oxford University into possible links between powerlines and childhood leukaemia; and if he will make a statement on the report.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 March 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1690W.

Children's Hospices

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much NHS funding has been allocated to children's hospices in Lancashire in each year since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of the total children's hospice funding that represented in each year;
	(2)  how many children's hospices there are in the Ribble Valley; and how many of them receive (a) a proportion of their funding and (b) the majority of their funding through the NHS;
	(3)  how many children's hospices in the Ribble Valley receive less than 10 per cent. of their core funding from the NHS.

Melanie Johnson: There is one children's hospice in Chorley registered with the Healthcare Commission. The Department does not collect information on hospice funding.
	Children's hospice services are funded from a number of sources, including services commissioned by primary care trusts on the basis of their assessment of children's needs and their priorities. There is no upper limit to the amount of funding which the national health service can provide.
	The Department continues to encourage representatives of children's hospices to engage actively with local NHS bodies over the contribution that hospices can make to the overall pattern of palliative care they commission for children and young people in their localities.

Community Hospitals

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of community hospitals in urban constituencies under the NHS five-year strategy.

John Hutton: The Department is seeking to create a more localised national health service, with treatment increasingly taking place in community settings. This means that community hospitals will have an important role in both urban and rural areas. The exact nature of that role will be for local determination, as community hospitals must meet the needs of the local population. Therefore, they will vary in size and in the services they provide, depending on local circumstances.

Doctors

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors have been employed by the NHS in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the north-east and (c) the UK in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	Information in respect of doctors in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the devolved administrators. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland office.
	The 2004 medical work force census is due to be published on 22 March.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) Doctors(14) and general medical practitioners excluding retainers(15) for specified organisations, 1997–2003 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 
			   Of which:  Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 89,619 60,230 29,389 91,837 62,140 29,697 
			
			 Of which:   
			 North-east 5,033 3,548 1,485 5,048 3,542 1,506 
			
			 Of which:   
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,015 1,366 649 2,062 1,412 650 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,018 2,182 836 2,986 2,130 856 
			
			 Of which:   
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 141 141 0 131 131 0 
			 RW9 South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			  1999 2000 
			   Of which:  Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 93,981 63,994 29,987 96,319 66,067 30,252 
			
			 Of which:   
			 North-east 5,269 3,749 1,520 5,489 3,953 1,536 
			 Of which:   
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,116 1,460 656 2,162 1,501 661 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,153 2,289 864 3,327 2,452 875 
			
			 Of which:   
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 89 0 89 84 0 84 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 157 157 0 176 176 0 
			 RW9 South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			  2001 2002 
			   Of which:  Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 99,169 68,484 30,685 103,350 72,268 31,182 
			
			 Of which:   
			 North-east 5,656 4,053 1,603 5,823 4,178 1,645 
			
			 Of which:   
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,228 1,532 696 2,252 1,551 701 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,428 2,521 907 3,571 2,627 944 
			
			 Of which:   
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 87 0 87 n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT n/a n/a n/a 100 13 87 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 242 242 0 218 218 0 
			 RW9 South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) n/a n/a n/a 33 33 0 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			  2003 
			   Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 108,993 76,400 32,593 
			 
			 Of which:
			 North-east 6,071 4,330 1,741 
			 
			 of which:
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,329 1,571 758 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,742 2,759 983 
			 
			 Of which:
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT 101 10 91 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 220 220 0 
			 RW9 South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) 49 49 0 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	1 Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospital.
	(14) All practitioners (excluding retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other, Flexible Career Scheme GPs and GP Returners.
	(15) The South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust is responsible for the delivery of mental health services to people living in Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and North Easington.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 1997–1999.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistic
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of electromagnetic hypersensitivity on people's health.

Melanie Johnson: The Department has made no overall assessment of electromagnetic hypersensitivity on people's health but the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has commissioned a review of electromagnetic hypersensitivity by a consultant in public health. It will address the range of symptoms reported to arise and explore whether there is a role for the NRPB in terms of prevention, management and public information.
	The mobile telecommunications and health research programme, supported by Government and industry sources, is funding studies of individuals who have reported an increased sensitivity to mobile phones and mobile phone base stations.

Food Labelling

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the European Commission about his plans for a traffic light system for food labelling; what response he has received from the Commission about the proposal; whether he plans to introduce legislation to give effect to the system; and whether he expects legislation on the system to be introduced by the European Commission.

Melanie Johnson: The European Commission is fully aware of, and has expressed support for, the work being progressed in the United Kingdom to develop a voluntary, national signposting system to make it easier for consumers to make healthier food choices. The Food Standards Agency is still investigating various signposting options and no decision has been made on the ultimate format of such front-of-pack labelling.
	We will be working with the European Union and will use the British presidency to ensure that Europe as a whole will provide simple nutritional labelling and make it mandatory on packaged goods.

Forensic Medical Examiners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what training is available to doctors who wish to become forensic medical examiners; and what the cost of this training was in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to increase the numbers of female doctors who become forensic medical examiners.

John Hutton: The Department is not responsible for the recruitment and training of forensic medical examiners. It is the responsibility of local police authorities and chief officers. There are a number of training providers, but no central information is collated relating to either the content or cost of such training.

Health Promotion

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on advertising the dangers of (a) smoking, (b) poor diet and (c) alcohol in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Education Authority ran the public education campaign on the dangers of smoking prior to 1999–2000. The tobacco control campaign run by the Department was launched in December 1999.
	The following table shows advertising expenditure on the dangers of smoking from 1999–2000 to date.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Financial year Tobacco control 
		
		
			 1999–2000 6.18 
			 2000–01 8.97 
			 2001–02 7.79 
			 2002–03 7.87 
			 2003–04 17.76 
			 2004–05(16) 25.00 
		
	
	(16) Estimated figure.
	In my response to a question from the hon. Member on 3 November 2004, Official Report, column 324–25W, advertising expenditure on the dangers of smoking from 1999–2000 to date, the amount for 2003–04 was incorrectly listed as £19.36 million. The correct figure for 2003–04 is £17.76 million.
	The Department does not advertise the dangers of poor diet. However, the Department promotes the positive benefits of a healthy diet through a range of on-going activities such as the five-a-day programme, including the school fruit and vegetable scheme, promotion of food in schools as well as promoting breastfeeding among the disadvantaged groups.
	The following table shows expenditure on promoting healthy diet from 1998 to 2005.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Financial year Expenditure 
		
		
			 1998–99 0.37 
			 1999–2000 1.26 
			 2000–01 1.62 
			 2001–02 1.74 
			 2002–03 1.14 
			 2003–04 3.24 
			 2004–05 4.31 
		
	
	There has been no advertising campaign by the Department specifically on the dangers of excessive drinking in the last seven years.
	The Department has funded, through its central communications budget, the production of a number of booklets or leaflets advising the public on sensible drinking. Expenditure for these is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Expenditure 
		
		
			 2002–03 96,764 
			 2003–04 44,591 
			 2004–05(17) 39,954 
		
	
	(17) Up to and including quarter three.
	Additionally, the Department funds the Drinkline helpline and a dedicated website. It is not possible to provide a separate cost for the operation of the helpline, Drinkline, as this is provided as part of a contract covering FRANK (drugs), Sexual Health Line, Drinkline and Know The Score, the Scottish helpline on drugs. These services have been provided under one contract and one operational model, for purposes of cost efficiency. The approximate cost of operating the four services in 2004–05 is £1.8 million including VAT, or £1.5 million excluding VAT.

Health Spending

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the spending per head of the population on health services was in (a) England and (b) the Weston-super-Mare constituency in each year since 1992.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected centrally in the format requested. The table shows expenditure per weighted head of population in England, and by the health authority and strategic health authority areas covering the Weston-Super-Mare constituency, for 1996–97 to 2003–04, which is the latest year for which figures are available. Information in this format is not available prior to 1996–97.
	
		Expenditure per weighted head of population
		
			 £ per head 
			  Avon Health Authority area Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority area England 
		
		
			 1996–97 638.36 n/a 625.56 
			 1997–98 606.25 n/a 607.85 
			 1998–99 672.26 n/a 659.76 
			 1999–2000 751.06 n/a 763.79 
			 2000–01 856.75 n/a 825.38 
			 2001–02 925.55 n/a 926.13 
			 2002–03 n/a 1,005.46 991.07 
			 2003–04 n/a 1,171.37 1,116.32 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority accounts and summarisation forms and primary care trust summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. Figures are given in cash terms.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of health authorities and primary care trusts.
	3. Figures for 1996–97 to 2001–02 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. Figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04 have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning health care or other services.
	Sources:
	Audited accounts of the health authorities 1996–97 to 1998–99.
	Audited summarisation forms of the health authorities 1999–2000 to 2001–02.
	Audited summarisation forms of the strategic health authorities 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	Audited summarisation schedules of primary care trusts 2000–01 to 2003–04.
	Weighted population figure.
	In many health authorities there are factors which distort the expenditure. These include:
	the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in NHS trusts being funded through health authorities or primary care trusts.
	The majority of general dental services expenditure is separately accounted for by the dental practice board (DPB). An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA). Total expenditure on these items by the DPB and the PPA cannot be allocated to individual health bodies, therefore the total expenditure in the answer does not capture all NHS expenditure within the area.
	The proportion of drugs expenditure accounted for by the DPB was larger in 1997–98 and 1998–99, which is why the total expenditure figures for those years appear low compared to 1996–97, 1999–2000, and 2000–01.
	For these reasons expenditure cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.

Heat-related Illnesses

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had about the public health impacts of heat-related illnesses.

Melanie Johnson: The Department is currently updating the report, "The Effects of Climate Change on Health in the United Kingdom", which was published in 2002. A group of experts, drawn from those who contributed to the original report, has met and is currently examining evidence. The effects of heat and cold on health will be carefully considered. An updated report will be published in the summer of 2005.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional provision has been made should the hepatitis B awareness campaign result in a large increase in people coming forward for treatment.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 10 March 2005
	The current health care professional and public awareness campaigns are for hepatitis C, rather than hepatitis B.
	Over the three year period 2005–06 to 2007–08, funding for the national health service will increase on average by 7.1 per cent. a year over and above inflation—a total increase over the period of 23 per cent. in real terms. Over three years, this will take the total spent on the NHS in England from £69 billion in 2004–05 to £92 billion in 2007–08. This is a significant increase over historic levels of growth.

Hospital Waiting Times

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time in hospitals in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the North East and (c) the UK has been in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The Department collects waiting times information by national health service trust.
	Table 1 shows South Tyneside NHS Trust in-patient median waiting time, all specialities: provider based 1996–97 to January 2005.
	
		Table 1
		
			  Year end month Median (weeks) 
		
		
			 1996–97 March 15.6 
			 1997–98 March 16.4 
			 1998–99 March 14.9 
			 1999–2000 March 12.4 
			 2000–01 March 10.5 
			 2001–02 March 9.5 
			 2002–03 March 8.7 
			 2003–04 March 8.3 
			 2004–05 January 6.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health KH07 (provider based).
	The Department collects waiting times information from strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	Table 2 shows Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA, in-patient median waiting time, all specialities: commissioner based 1996–97 to January 2005.
	
		Table 2
		
			  Year end month Median (weeks) 
		
		
			 1996–97 March 12.2 
			 1997–98 March 12.3 
			 1998–99 March 11.7 
			 1 999–2000 March 11.1 
			 2000–01 March 11.1 
			 2001–02 March 11.8 
			 2002–03 March 10.9 
			 2003–04 March 9.6 
			 2004–05 January 10.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health, QF01 (commissioner based).
	The Department does not collect waiting times data for the United Kingdom, but for England.
	Table 3 shows England, in-patient median waiting time, all specialities: commissioner based 1996–97 to January 2005.
	
		Table 3
		
			 Quarter ended Median waiting inpatient waiters time for (weeks) 
		
		
			 March 1997 13.2 
			 March 1998 14.2 
			 March 1999 12.8 
			 March 2000 12.9 
			 March 2001 12.6 
			 March 2002 12.7 
			 March 2003 11.9 
			 March 2004 10.2 
			 January 2005 9.3 
		
	
	Note:
	The introduction of time-bands from April 2004 has led to a more precise calculation of the median waiting time.
	Source:
	Department of Health, QF01 (commissioner based).

Lancashire Ambulance Trust

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the proposed restructuring of ambulance services by Lancashire Ambulance Trust.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 March 2005
	Any decisions about the configuration of ambulance trusts are a matter for the local health economy to consider, led by the strategic health authority (SHA) and in consultation with patients and the public. Under section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, national health service bodies are under a duty to consult and involve patients, the public and their representatives in the planning of changes to services, and to involve them in decisions affecting the operation of services. Should a proposal to change services represent a substantial development or variation, NHS bodies are under a duty to consult relevant local authority overview and scrutiny committees.

Medical Treatment (European Countries)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients living in the Ribble Valley have had operations or other medical treatments funded by the NHS in European countries in each of the last three years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 15 March 2005
	This information is not collected centrally.

Midwifery

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of unfilled midwifery posts in the North West.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 16 March 2005
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

MRSA

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) assessment he has made of the scope for the use of essential oils in dealing with MRSA and (b) funding he intends to provide for research into the use of such oils in combating MRSA.

Melanie Johnson: The scientific literature indicates that essential oils can help control health care associated infections, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The Department has allocated £3 million to research into health care associated infection and has recently issued a call for research proposals. If a proposal on essential oils is submitted, it will be carefully considered alongside others.

NHS Spending

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2005, Official Report, column 1911W, on NHS spending, what the expenditure on hospital and community services in England is at constant prices.

John Hutton: Information on the expenditure on hospital and community services in England, at 2003–04 prices, is shown in the table. Expenditure figures provided include the commissioning of secondary health care, which is the closest to the information requested. It is not possible to provide comparable figures prior to 1996–97.
	
		
			  Amount (£000) 
		
		
			 1996–97 25,835,590 
			 1997–98 26,444,802 
			 1998–99 27,551,795 
			 1999–2000 29,086,599 
			 2000–01 31,695,378 
			 2001–02 32,333,446 
			 2002–03 33,859,814 
			 2003–04 36,305,199 
		
	
	Sources:
	Health authority audited accounts 1996–97 and 1997–98.
	Health authority audited summarisation forms 1998–99 to 2001–02.
	Strategic health authority audited summarisation forms 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	Primary care trust audited summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2003–04.
	Her Majesty's Treasury gross domestic product deflator.

Nurses

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have been employed by the NHS in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the North East and (c) England in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	The 2004 non-medical workforce census is due to be published on 22 March.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services:Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, including general medical service practice nurses, for the specified organisations as at 30 September each year
		
			 Headcount 
			   1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 England  318,856 323,457 329,637 335,952 350,381 367,520 386,359 
			 of which: 
			 North East Government Office Region  18,598 19,033 19,872 20,006 20,977 21,504 22,108 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley strategic health authority Q10 7,732 8,050 8,244 8,458 8,600 8,647 9,084 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Q09 10,866 10,983 11,628 11,548 12,377 12,857 13,024 
			 of which: 
			 South Tyneside primary care group 4NJ39 n/a n/a 56 50 58 n/a n/a 
			 South Tyneside primary care trust 5KG n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 257 265 
			 South Tyneside NHS foundation trust RE9 905 854 899 891 916 615 624 
			 South of Tyne and Wearside mental health NHS trust RW9 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 803 652 
		
	
	Notes:
	Practice nurse data is as at 1 October 1997–99
	Practice nurse data is estimated for 1998 and 1999
	n/a—not applicable
	Sources:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Out-of-Hours GP Services

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which areas receive additional funding for out-of-hours general practitioner services on account of their rural character.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 March 2005
	The table shows the 50 primary care trusts (PCTs) that were allocated on account of their rural character additional funding to provide out-of-hours services. The additional funding was aggregated to strategic health authority level and decisions about final allocations were agreed locally.
	PCT
	East Lincolnshire
	Shropshire County
	Suffolk West
	Craven, Harrogate and Rural District
	Southern Norfolk
	Central Cornwall
	Kennet and North Wiltshire
	Cotswold and Vale
	Lincolnshire South West
	Herefordshire
	Mid Hampshire
	North and East Cornwall
	North Lincolnshire
	North Devon
	Yorkshire Wolds and Coast
	Sussex Downs and Weald
	West of Cornwall
	East Yorkshire
	South Somerset
	Huntingdonshire
	East Cambridgeshire and Fenland
	West Norfolk
	Melton, Rutland and Harborough
	West Cumbria
	Cherwell Vale
	Newark and Sherwood
	Broadland
	South Wiltshire
	Hambleton and Richmondshire
	Mid Devon
	Mendip
	Teignbridge
	South Cambridgeshire
	High Peak and Dales
	Bassetlaw
	Daventry and South Northamptonshire
	South Hams and West Devon
	Central Suffolk
	North Norfolk
	Suffolk Coastal
	South Peterborough
	North Dorset
	Doncaster East
	South Huddersfield
	Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire
	Durham Dales
	Maldon and South Chelmsford
	SE Oxfordshire
	Uttlesford
	Eden Valley

Out-of-Hours GP Services

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received on the new GP out-of-hours service since its introduction (a) in England and (b) in the North Somerset Primary Care Trust area.

John Hutton: The information requested is not centrally available.

Paddington Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what percentage of Harefield Hospital's catchment area for cardiothoracic NHS inpatients, in-patients will be drawn for the new hospital on the Paddington Basin Health Campus; and when its facilities will be available for them.

John Hutton: The number of in-patient episodes currently undertaken at Harefield Hospital is projected to grow from 5,500 in 2003–04 to 6,000 by the time the Paddington Health Campus (PHC) opens. Of these patients, it is expected that 73 per cent. will use the PHC and the remaining 27 per cent., predominantly secondary cardiology patients, will use appropriately equipped local hospitals, possibly with cardiac departments operated as satellite Royal Brompton and Harefield services.
	The outline business case for the PHC estimates that the new facilities will be fully operational from June 2013.

Paddington Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has consulted HM Treasury on the increase in land acquisition costs over those published in the public consultation document on the Paddington Basin Health Campus project and for which budget provision had been made.

John Hutton: Her Majesty's Treasury has not yet been formally consulted. However, as recommended by the independent review team, it was represented on the steering group which oversaw the review. Once the Department has approved the outline business case (OBC), my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary of the Treasury will receive the OBC for consideration and approval.

Paddington Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome has been of negotiations between Pearcroft Ltd. and his Department on the Paddington Basin Health Campus.

John Hutton: The Department has not been in negotiations with Pearcroft Ltd. in relation to the proposed Paddington Health Campus (PHC) and has no plans to do so.
	Pearcroft has a shareholding in Paddington Development Corporate Ltd., (PDCL), a privately owned consortium, which, amongst other things, owns land in Paddington. PDCL is currently negotiating with Westminster city council and the Paddington Health Campus team for land required for the proposed PHC. Westminster city council has agreed to broker the land deal.

Paddington Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the cost to his Department of providing housing for relatives of patients receiving hospital treatment on the Paddington Basin Health Campus.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 March 2005
	The outline business case for the Paddington Health Campus submitted in December 2004 estimated the capital cost of accommodation for relatives of children and adults undergoing complex treatment as £11 million.

Patient Fitness Programmes

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation his Department carries out of the efficacy of fitness programmes for patients referred at primary care level by the NHS.

Melanie Johnson: Fitness programmes for patients referred at primary care level by the national health service are subject to local evaluation. The Healthcare Commission assesses the performance of primary care trusts in the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
	The Department periodically commissions reviews of best practice in the promotion of physical activity, including review-level research into the effectiveness of exercise referral schemes. The Health Development Agency has recently produced an updated evidence briefing on the effectiveness of public health interventions for increasing physical activity among adults and is preparing a briefing on the promotion of physical activity aimed at professionals in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.
	"Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan", includes a commitment for production of specific guidelines for children's exercise referral.

Pregnancy Advisory Service

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 978W, to the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen), on the Pregnancy Advisory Service, whether funding has been allocated by the Government to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 16 March 2005
	The Department has not directly funded the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) in any year since 1997. We do not collect data on the funding BPAS receives through its contracts with primary care trusts.

Primary Care Trusts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements there are for primary care trust funding panels to consult patients before reaching a decision on whether to fund treatments and drugs.

John Hutton: There is no formal requirement for primary care trust (PCT) funding panels to consult patients before reaching a decision on whether to fund treatment and drugs. However, in cases where there is no guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and a local decision needs to be taken, such consultation would be considered good practice.
	Where the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recommended a treatment in a technology appraisal, PCTs normally have to make funding available for this treatment within three months of the appraisal's publication. NICE consults widely with a range of stakeholders, including patients and patients' organisations, before making a technology appraisal decision.
	In addition, all PCTs have patient and public involvement forums, which exist to monitor and review the services arranged and/or provided by the trust from the perspective of the patient. This includes both the range and operation of services.

Scans (Private Sector)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the decision was taken to site the Alliance Medicals mobile scanner at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough rather than at University Hospital, North Durham; and who took the decision.

John Hutton: The James Cook Hospital was the closest available site which had immediate access to a power and water supply in the grounds of the hospital where mobile scanner units are normally sited. The decision to site the scanner at James Cook Hospital was taken by the local radiology manager, in conjunction with Alliance Medical.
	Alliance Medical is investigating the possibility of locating a mobile scanner unit in the North Durham area, ideally on a primary care site which has a suitable power and water supply available in the grounds of the site.

Specialised Health Services

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to strengthen processes for (a) planning, (b) decision making and (c) performance management in the commissioning of specialised health services.

John Hutton: Primary care trusts are expected to commission specialised services collaboratively through their membership of the eight specialised commissioning groups and 26 local specialised commissioning groups covering England. Strategic health authorities actively support, monitor and performance manage the commissioning arrangements for specialised services in their areas.

Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Public Service Agreement target to increase the participation of problem drug users in drug treatment programmes by 55 per cent. by 2004 was met.

Melanie Johnson: Figures published by the National Treatment Agency on 30 September 2004 show that 54 per cent. more drug misusers were in contact with drug treatment services in 2003–04 in comparison to the 1998–99 baseline.